The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is thrilled to announce that the number of grants available for the upcoming 2018/2019 cycle totals $32,000, exceeding last year’s total by $2,000 and $11,000 more than the previous year. Thanks to the generosity of all who contributed to the FSACF general fund, the interest accrued will allow the grant committee more opportunities to benefit the 501c3 applicants who meet the qualifications.
Monies granted to the 18 beneficiaries from last year’s cycle were used for a variety of causes, including helping to purchase medals for Special Olympics’ Bourbon County participants, providing benefits to cancer patients, assisting the Beacon to meet family needs, funding classes for CASA volunteers and purchasing lights for the local pickleball courts.
The FSACF 2018 Grant Applications will be released on Wednesday, August 1, at which time they will appear on the FSACF website or may be picked up in person at the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall. Nonprofits such as churches, governmental entities, or organizations with a 501c3 status are encouraged to apply.
Applications are due by Tuesday, August 28. Acceptance and declination letters will be mailed on Tuesday, October 16. Grants will be awarded at the Foundation’s Chamber Coffee held in the Landmark Bank lobby at Third and Main at 8 A.M. on Thursday, November 1.
The Uniontown City Council has been active in recent years to improve the town’s infrastructure.
A project to widen and deepen the town’s ditches to keep water going where it should, a water line replacement project and this year a natural gas line replacement project has been initiated by the council. Uniontown’s population is 272.
The city of Uniontown was awarded $201,000 in 2017 with Community Development Block Grant funds to replace a natural gas transmission line, according to kansascommerce.gov/CivicAlerts.
The city will contribute $201,000 in matching funds for this project.
The Uniontown project started June 12.
“We are trying to get it done by September 1,” NPL(Northern Pipe Line) Foreman Pat Wier, said. “So far, we are up to date, but we have a lot of work to be done.”
The two-man crew is replacing PVC pipe with PE pipe. The crew is comprised of Wier and Edmundo Rodriguez, Lenexa.
“PE is a federal requirement,” Wier said. “PVC is not recognized anymore. We are laying new pipe in portions of the city where the PVC is.”
The crew worked late into the night on Thursday to get resident Bill Griffith hooked back on to gas after a day spent laying pipe on the town’s southeast side.
“Once started, we couldn’t quit,” Wier said. “There are a few late nights.”
The usual hours for the crew is 7 a.m to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Wier said.
Next for the crew is replacing 3,700 feet of two-inch steel pipe south of town.
“That is exposed,” Wier said. “We’ll be replacing and putting pipe underground for safety.”
Recently, a brush mower in this area ran over the steel riser and “caused a pretty good (gas)leak,” Wier said. “That’s why we are doing all this.”
During the FortScott.Biz interview a Kansas Corporation Commission Inspector, Jon Bolinder, turned up at the work site.
Bolinder is with the Office of Pipeline Safety for the KCC, he said.
Bolinder said all projects submit a construction notice to KCC. He was on his way to the Coffeyville area and made a stop in Uniontown to view the project.
“We come out and make sure they are following code when installing,” Bolinder said. He also said it helps him “in my head, when I am doing the paperwork on the project.”
The Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program allows the Kansas Department of Commerce to distribute federal funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their community.
To receive CDBG funds, a project must meet at least one of the following federally mandated criteria, according to the website:
The project benefits low- and moderate-income individuals.
The project removes or prevents slum or blight condition.
The project eliminates an urgent need created by a disaster when local funds are unavailable.
George Leslie, Jr., age 70, a resident of rural Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at his home.
He was born July 20, 1948, in Ft. Scott, the son of Harry George Leslie, Sr. and Emma Lou Ball Leslie. George first married Wanda Payton on March 10, 1967. They divorced. He later married Sharon Reed on September 2, 2014.
George had worked for Mid-Continental Restoration for over thirty-five years. He was a member of Community Christian Church. He enjoyed ham radio, camping, fishing, hunting and drag racing as well as watching Western movies.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon, of the home; a son, Brent Leslie and wife, Brandy, of Ft. Scott; two daughters, Lisa Hoffmeier and husband, Mark, of Derby, Kansas and Amber Leslie and fiancé, Chris Bulino, of Ft. Scott; and a step-daughter, Karrie Cocroft and husband, Don, of Ft. Scott; eleven grandchildren, Jacob, Alexis and Josh Hoffmeier, Danyelle Daly, Alyssa and Breanna Leslie, Grace Fritter, Fenton Reeves, Allie Reeves, Presley Cocroft and Dylan Peterson. Also surviving are three sisters, June White, of Ft. Scott, Candy Davis and Honey Lou Dahns, both of Lawrence, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry George Leslie, Sr. and Emma Lou Leslie Davis and a brother, Trick Davis.
There was cremation. A memorial visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday, July 27th at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Guinea keets for sale. Guineas are ideal for reducing chiggers and disease-carrying ticks. Unlike chickens, guineas are less prone to scratching and eating plants so they are often used for bug control in areas with gardens and flower beds. Keets are 4 to 6 weeks old.
The Fort Scott Police Department daily reports can best be viewed on a computer.
The FSPD is located at 1604 S. National, Fort Scott, KS 66701 and can be reached at 620-223-1700.
Click below, then click on the image to enlarge it:
Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from The Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio, to help purchase a new transport ambulance for emergency medical services.
The new ambulance will be purchased by combining grant funds from The Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio, plus nearly $13,000 raised from the third Mercy Golf Classic held on June 9 as well as proceeds from the Hit the Bricks Wine Stroll, Art Walk and Blane Howard Concert held on July 27.
Additional contributions made to the Mercy Health Foundation for the purchase of the ambulance by August 1, 2018, will be matched by the foundation at a 1:1 ratio. To make a donation, visit mercy.net/donate or call the foundation office at 620-223-8094.
“We are grateful for the donation from the Timken Foundation,” said Christi Keating, Mercy Fort Scott’s chief nursing officer. “This contribution will allow Mercy EMS to provide life-saving services to some of our most critical patients before they enter our doors.”
The Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation which supports programming and equipment at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2017 by Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes 44 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, more than 700 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Retha Lynn Ross, age 46, a resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Thursday, July 19, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital Emergency Room. She was born April 4, 1972, in Girard, KS, the daughter of Jerry Sowder and Vivian Allen Moore.
She was adopted and raised by her paternal grandparents, C.A. and Doris Wimberley. She graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1990. She then went on to receive her RN degree from Fort Scott Community College Nursing Department. She worked as a nurse for over 10 years. She married David Ross on December 28, 1991, in Fort Scott.
Retha enjoyed taking care of her grandchildren, gardening, going to the casino, being a military mom, and being helpful to anyone who needed it.
Survivors include her husband David of the home; biological mother, Vivian Moore, Ft. Scott; maternal grandmother, Enid Large, Ft. Scott; three sons, Timothy, Matthew, and Dylan Ross, all of Ft. Scott; one daughter, Elizabeth Ross, Fort Scott; two brothers, Paul Hood, Booneville, MO, and David Large, Branson, MO; and several grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and paternal grandparents.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Friday, July 27th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 Thursday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Retha Ross Memorial Fund and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Albert Leon Combs, Jr., 71, of Girard, passed away at 0655 hours on
Friday, July 20, 2018, at his residence, surrounded by his family.
Al was born on May 21, 1947, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Albert
Leon and Ruth Marie (Ballinger) Combs. He attended Fort Scott High
School and Fort Scott Community College.
Al married Lucille (Winterbower) Spurling and the two later divorced.
On May 5, 1983, Albert and Kathy Deer were united in marriage in
Miami, Oklahoma. She survives of the home.
In 1969, Al enlisted in the United State Army and served from 1969
through 1971 with tours in the Republic of Vietnam. Al served his
country again with the Kansas Army National Guard from 1985 through 1990. Al served with the 18th Military Police Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, 212th Military Police Company as a dog handler, the 42nd Military Police Group, and the 891st Combat Engineer Battalion as a training NCO.
Beginning in 1977, Al again served his community in many ways
including as a Detective Sergeant with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy for the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, and patrolman for the Fort Scott Police Department. Al worked as a railroad detective for the Katy Railroad and as an investigator for the Missouri Department of Child Services. Beginning in 2000, Al worked as a patrolman and detective for the Girard Police Department and then as Chief of Police for the Arma Police Department until his retirement in2013.
Al enjoyed spending time with his family, telling tall tales, and fishing.
Al was a member of many organizations including the National and
Kansas Auctioneer Associations; National Association of Bunco
Investigators; Kansas Chiefs of Police Association; Kansas Sheriff’s
Association; VFW Membership in Paris, France; American Legion of Arma, Kansas; Masonic Lodge of Hiattville, Kansas; 545th Military Police Company Association; and the 720th Military Police Company Association.
In addition to his wife, Kathy, Al is survived by three sons; Troy
Combs, his wife Lisia and three children of St. Paul; daughter Alecia
Chaffee, her husband Sean, and three children of Webb City, Missouri; Matthew Combs, his wife Bridget, and two children of Toronto Kansas; and Garrett Combs, his wife Kenna and two children of Girard. His sister Sherry Hendricks of Round Rock, Texas also survives him.
Al was preceded in death by his mother, father, and three sisters,
Beverly McReynolds, Linda Carpenter, and Alberta Fisher.
Services will be held on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at
Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard with Chaplain Mike Graham officiating. Burial services will follow at the Girard Cemetery with military honors provided by the Fort Riley, Kansas Honor Guard and VFW Post 704, Parsons, Kansas.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 24, 2018, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Smith-Carson-Wall.
Memorials are suggested to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Pittsburg, Kansas and may be left at the funeral home or mailed to Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home at 518 W. St. John, P.O. Box 258, Girard, Ks 66743.
Condolences may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices.com.
and how many dozen. You may then drop off or mail a check to the Chamber @ 231 E. Wall St. payable to Fort Scott Rotary. If payment is not received by August 17th, the order will not be placed. Orders and payments may also be mailed to Fort Scott Rotary, PO Box 1035, Fort Scott, KS 66701.
Please note ORDER PICKUP is Saturday, Aguust 25th between 8-11am at Memorial Hall, 1 E. 3rd St. If you will not be able to pick them up, please make other arrangements for someone to pick them up on your behalf.